Would you like to receive Pastor Matthew C. Manning’s video documentary for FREE?

Dear ____,

We have run into a major conflict that hinders the completion of the video documentary “Truth Behind the Lie”, which presents Pastor Matthew’s incredible testimony of Jesus Christ completely delivering him from homosexuality and totally healing him of H.I.V./A.I.D.S. (including verified medical documentation) via interviews and realistic drama reenactments. We need to raise $2,000 to repair and replace our video editing equipment and computer, which was purposely targeted and attacked with Trojan viruses.

Everyone who gives a $20.00 donation or more – along with complete mailing information – will receive the finished video documentary on DVD free of charge in early 2004 (which will sell for around $25.00 + $5.00 Shipping).

Thank you for your assistance and may God bless you,

Christopher Shawn Shaw

Updated February 9, 2004:

Money-raising appeals such as this do not reflect particularly well on Mr. Manning’s ministry. Blaming predictable crises such as computer failure on conspiratorial forces is more often a tactic used by desperate political activists, not reputable organizations. XGW encourages Manning to rethink his approach.

There is ample evidence in the news of AIDS-related fraud, and doctors universally agree AIDS/HIV has no known cure.

No doubt Manning is sincere in his belief that he was cured of AIDS. I believe he can do better for a world of HIV-infected individuals than merely marketing his story on CBN. He could, for example, testify under oath before the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

Manning’s CBN story and his web site oversimplify the tricky science of seroconversion and detection, while omitting key witnesses and information:

observations of Manning’s military physicians

Manning’s AIDS diagnosis (not just HIV exposure)

medically adequate proof that Manning no longer shows evidence of the disease — for example, a series of negative Western Blot tests.

Manning declined to provide this simple information both to XGW and to an XGW reader. Instead, the ministry advised us to fly to its offices in California to view a few pages of documentation that could easily be posted online.

When we have criticized Manning for making proof of his cure so difficult to access, Manning has resorted to legal threats such as that posted below, and repeated here.

Manning has a right to say (or not say) what he wants, within reasonable limits. And we have the right to express disagreement. That’s what freedom of religion and freedom of speech are all about.

XGW readers are, of course, free to form their own opinions about us, about Manning’s ministry, about the power of prayer, and about effective treatments for HIV/AIDS.

If Manning ever opts to provide medical evidence of his cure without requiring a trip to California or a purchase of video and PowerPoint presentations, XGW will be happy to report Manning’s cooperation.

Miracles most certainly do happen, but legal threats and flawed fund-raising appeals give cause for some skepticism in Mr. Manning’s case.

Mike Airhart was the founding editor of Ex-Gay Watch, until he left in 2007. He has returned as a contributing writer. He has written periodically for Truth Wins Out, and volunteered for Men Can Stop Rape, Whitman-Walker Clinic, WaterFire Providence, and the Providence Equality Action Committee. His background includes expertise in journalism, business news, content syndication, human rights, sexual harassment issues, and liberation theology.